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How Employee Voice Helps Community Engagement (What are some causes of…
How Employee Voice Helps Community Engagement
Employees often refrain from voicing opinion about major issues out of fear of feel their opinions will not matter
What are some causes of employee silence?
Fear
Possibility of negative consequences
Intrinsic to many hierarchical orgs
Some don't have built-in protections for employees
Employees aim to protect standing over bringing up issues
If problems are seen as criticisms of mgmt, silence is default
Sense of Futility
When employees don't believe that speaking up will bring about change or impact
Leads to apathy and withdrawal
The mum effect
Ppl "stay silent about problems and concerns bc of the discomfort that comes with being the bearer of bad news"
Negative info is frequently distorted and minimized. Hierarchies add to this issue
Employee sympathy w/ their problems
Problems w/o solutions
"Don't bring me problems, bring me solutions"
Silence occurs when an employee doesn't have an immediate solution
Is it realistic for for mgrs to expect instant answers from employees?
Expectation may create quick fixes, leading to potential larger problems
How can employee silence be tackled?
Mgrs must convince employees to share opinions
Create safe working environments
Rethink governance models to include stakeholders outside shareholders
Costs
Costs for Employees and Companies
When an employee goes silent, ideas and collaboration cease.
Silence causes further conflict
If beliefs are at odds w/ the orgs, employees can begin to disassociate.
MANAGERS must review internal practices around upward comms
Can affect work and personal lives.
Costs for Society
"Spillover effect"
Conditions in one area of life can directly affect a person in other aspects of their life.
Employees feeling disengaged may take that attitude to outside areas
"Learned Helplessness" by Martin Seligman
"occurs when people are exposed over a long period of time to unpleasant and uncontrollable situations, until eventually they become passive and stop trying."
Ex: Democratic societies where participation is required
High levels of stress may exist
Effects on Community Engagement
Community Engagement: A person's level of involvement or engagement in his or her immediate community or society
Factors
Quality and number of ties that ppl have with others in the community
Election voting
Volunteerings
Community governance activities
contributions to community-based charities
identification w/ community
Work engagement
Positive: participative work including group decision-making and self-direction